LAPT7 Chile: Amos Ben bubbles, final table set (finally)

The dinner break done, the final nine players returned to Level 27 with increased blinds of 25,000/50,000 and a 5,000 ante.

The final nine

During the first orbit back no less than three different players open-raised below average stacks all in -- Mario Lopez, then Amos Ben, then Johann Ibanez -- with none earning any takers.

The second time around the table saw Robert Lipkin -- the North Americano -- open-push from middle position for his entire stack of 501,000, then Guilherme Pita reraising all in from the button, clearing the blinds.

It was A♦Q♠ for Lipkin and A♥J♠ for Pita, and after the nine-high board ran out Lipkin had doubled again.

Robert Lipkin

Play continued, with Lipkin again shoving all in, this time from the big blind over a Mario Lopez button open, and Lopez folded.

Finally, after what had amounted to about three hours' worth of nine-handed play and more than 65 hands, the bubble at last burst.

The hand began with an open to 105,000 from Jefferson Melo, followed by an all-in push by the Chilean Amos Ben from the button for 235,000. The blinds got out, and with a sheepish grin Melo called the push and showed his hand -- 6♠3♥. The Season 6 LAPT Player of the Year Ben tabled his cards -- K♠Q♦ -- and slid forward on his seat to see the flop.

Ben leaned back a touch after it arrived, coming 3♣6♣J♥ to give Melo two pair. By the 7♣ turn both he and Melo were standing to shake hands, as no river card could reverse the situation.

Amos Ben

Nine remain! And Jefferson Melo is again at the top of the leaderboard, just as he was to end Days 1A and 2.

Back in just a few with a recap of the day and a look ahead to tomorrow's final.